Do you know where this is?

Sunday

Oct 27, 2013 at 6:00 AMOct 28, 2013 at 4:42 AM

This 1852 mansion in the Italianate style stands on land with an illustrious history of ownership in Worcester history.

First given as a land grant in 1645 to Capt. Daniel Henchman, a man who was sometimes called the Father of Worcester for his dogged determination to settle the area, this lot later came into the possession of several illustrious Worcesterites, including the famous John Hancock.

By 1852, the lot was in the possession of William Hooper and William Thompson, who had married sisters, and built two nearly identical homes on the lot.

It certainly seems likely that Mr. Hooper and Mr. Thompson were pretty flush. Among the woods used to build the house were Maine spruce for the frame, Michigan pine for the trim, mahogany and chestnut for the floors, and walnut for the doors.

For more than 130 years, the house served, first private residents, and then a nonprofit to which it was donated. That donation included both houses, which were joined to form one large building.

Later in its life, its neighborhood underwent punishing change. Once surrounded by broad lawns, the two homes lost first their front lawn, and then side and back lawns to roads and highways.

And while it continued to serve a useful purpose, like many older homes its maintenance must have been a nightmare. In 1990, it was demolished to make way for a newer building.

Hint: Two members of a famous family that occupied this house served in just about every political office the city, district and state had to offer, not to mention the federal government, and gave their name to the house and the street on which it stood.